Police shut down Portsmouth 'illegal gig' by Southsea band Colour of the Jungle in Foxes Forest in Hilsea

Hampshire police officers were called to the event hosted by Southsea band Colour of the Jungle, on the evening of Saturday, July 25.

The band chose to set up in part of a derelict fort in Foxes Forest, in Hilsea, to 'bring music to the people.'

The band's lead singer, Jack Evans, explained that the gig was only illegal due to the lack of proper licensing. He said: 'It was something we couldn't do in an establishment because of everything that's going on so we took matters into our own hands.

'It's an illegal gig because of the location and it's against the law to do so. It's nothing to do with coronavirus. You have got to have licences to do so.

'If you look at the bigger picture all these licences to hold gigs outside, even though you can do it yourself, is just a money maker.'

The 31-year-old from Southsea added: ‘We were thinking “no one’s going to turn up because it’s raining” so we were getting the equipment through thinking no one's going to turn up and then by the time we had set it all up the sun came out and there were about 70 people there.

‘As far as it goes no one was breaking any rules at all. There were people in front of the stage where we were playing who weren't sticking to two metres, but they were 100 per cent keeping the one metre distance.

‘There's no difference with people going to a pub and getting drunk and not listening to music than there is to come to the forest where we did it.

‘There was a way in and a way out that was completely different. Our gig was no different to being in a pub.’

A spokesman for Hampshire police said: ‘We received information at 8.20pm on Saturday of an alleged unlicensed music event taking place in an area off Peronne Road, Portsmouth.

‘Officers attended and it transpired the event was in fact a music video shoot, with approximately 40 or more people in attendance.

‘The people on scene were compliant and left the area following the arrival of the police.

‘Coronavirus still represents a real and deadly threat. Restrictions on gatherings are still in place and we will continue to engage within our communities and take enforcement action where necessary.’

Jack said: ‘We were shooting footage for a video. It goes hand in hand these days. You can't do a gig without people filming it.’

Colour of the Jungle are planning to hold a gig at the Gaiety Bar on South Parade Pier on August 28.

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